My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout

My Name Is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout is a quiet, powerful novel about mothers, daughters, and the stories we carry.
 
While recovering in a New York hospital, Lucy Barton is visited by her estranged mother. Over five days, their simple conversations reveal unspoken pain, fragile love, and the complicated bonds that shape a life.
 
💖 Why You’ll Love It
Spare, elegant prose with emotional depth
A moving exploration of mother–daughter relationships
Subtle storytelling that lingers long after reading
Perfect for readers who love reflective, character-driven fiction
🌟 Perfect For
Fans of literary fiction with quiet intensity
Book clubs focused on family dynamics and memory
Readers who appreciate minimalist, thoughtful narratives
Those who loved Olive Kitteridge
 
Lucy Barton is a writer, a wife, and a mother—but in a hospital bed, she is also a daughter longing for connection. When her mother, whom she has not seen in years, comes to stay with her, their conversations circle around small-town gossip, shared memories, and carefully avoided truths.
Through these quiet exchanges, Elizabeth Strout reveals the deep currents beneath ordinary speech: shame, longing, forgiveness, and the enduring pull of family.
 
With restraint and compassion, My Name Is Lucy Barton captures the complexity of love between parents and children—and the ways we both escape and remain tied to our origins.